The new strategy includes focus with performance and gaming products
After being the ASUS’ CEO for 11 years, Jerry Shen announced that he will be stepping down effective January 1, 2019. Taking over his position are PC business lead S.Y. Hsu and global customer service lead Samson Hu.
The recent development is in light of ASUS’ planned “comprehensive corporate transformation”, where there will be a new co-CEO structure, along with a revised strategy for mobile. According to a report by Engadget, the new strategy will involve ASUS focusing more on mobile devices geared towards gamers and performance users. The new strategy shift comes at a one time-loss of NT$6 billion (about US$190 million) to cover “loss of inventory, royalties, production costs and organizational adjustment expenses.”
Shen said that the move was necessary “to aid the new mobile team.”
In spite of Shen’s resignation, he maintains his links with ASUS thanks to a 30-percent stake in his new venture—as chairman and CEO of AIoT startup iFast. The company is said to focus on B2B applications.
UPDATE: Here’s ASUS’ official statement on their revamped mobile strategy:
ASUS will continue to develop the ZenFone series while also aiming to expand the gaming smartphone market. We will focus on perfecting solutions for gamers and power users.
